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Daily Prayer - 2018-10-08

Presence

I bring myself into your presence, O God.
May I always take time to notice and enjoy
the beauty you have created
for my pleasure.

Freedom

"I am free."
When I look at these words in writing,
they seem to create in me a feeling of awe.
Yes, a wonderful feeling of freedom.
Thank you, God.

Consciousness

Dear Lord help me to be always
aware of the important things in life.
To care for those around me.
To seek your presence in all I meet.

The Word of God

Luke 10:25-37

Just then a lawyer stood up to test Jesus. 'Teacher,' he said, 'what must I do to inherit eternal life?' He said to him, 'What is written in the law? What do you read there?' He answered, 'You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbour as yourself.' And he said to him, 'You have given the right answer; do this, and you will live.'

But wanting to justify himself, he asked Jesus, 'And who is my neighbour?' Jesus replied, 'A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell into the hands of robbers, who stripped him, beat him, and went away, leaving him half dead. Now by chance a priest was going down that road; and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan while travelling came near him; and when he saw him, he was moved with pity. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, having poured oil and wine on them. Then he put him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him. The next day he took out two denarii, gave them to the innkeeper, and said, "Take care of him; and when I come back, I will repay you whatever more you spend." Which of these three, do you think, was a neighbour to the man who fell into the hands of the robbers?' He said, 'The one who showed him mercy.' Jesus said to him, 'Go and do likewise.'

Some thoughts on today's scripture

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Jesus the Teacher is approached by many individuals. Some are genuinely seeking God and wish to do better. Others, like the lawyer of today's reading, is 'testing' Jesus. It is possible, of course, that he is in good faith; he may also be a genuine searcher, but simply more cautious and suspicious than the others who come to Jesus.

The religious officials in the story - the priest and the Levite - fail the test (probably the fear of ritual impurity prevents them from responding as neighbours to the stricken man). Meanwhile, the Samaritan, an ethnic and religious outsider, is the hero.

What is striking is how Jesus seems to 'raise the bar' when he is speaking to individuals. When he preaches generally to the crowd, he invites and encourages. But to the individuals who offer themselves, or ask further questions, he challenges them to go that bit further. Is this my experience of being a Christian? Where do I find myself being 'stretched'?